The Exclusive With Sharon Tharp

SPOILER WARNING: This audio contains major spoilers for the latest episode of Big Brother 28, including the eliminated player.

Kamu Kirk sat down with The Exclusive the morning after his Big Brother 28 eviction to answer for a week that drew significant criticism. He explains his reasoning behind the Tea Party confrontation with Jason, responds to the comments he made about how Jason dresses, and addresses the pregnancy remarks directed at Melody that many viewers found difficult to watch. Host Sharon Tharp also asks whether he's willing to go back and watch the live feeds, including the moments he...

Rick Devens spent years saying he'd never do Big Brother. His wife is the reason he's in the house. Becca Devens joins The Exclusive on eviction day to explain how she talked a two-time Survivor player into a summer-long lockdown — and why "my wife won't let me" was the excuse Rick had been hiding behind the whole time. She breaks down his Diamond Power of Veto bomb ("I wanted to crawl into a hole") and what Dee Valladares really means to him inside that house. Plus: her honest read on Angela Murray, whether Rick would ever take Dee to the en...

Eight years after Big Brother 20, Angela "Rockstar" Lantry joins the Memory Wall to revisit the season that turned one sentence — "It's my daughter's birthday!" — into permanent Big Brother lore. She explains what was really happening during the dead air in that live episode, why she believes production cast her specifically to clash with Brett, and how she found out they'd called her mom to re-record an HOH letter. Plus: the secret casting hotel, where she and Brett stand today, and the real journal entry she read from the jury house.

Survivor 49's Sophi Balerdi joins Sharon Tharp to recap week six of Big Brother 28, less than an hour after Rick Devens used the Diamond Power of Veto to pull Dee off the block. Balerdi, who knows Dee outside the house, questions whether Devens revealed his position too early and weighs what the move costs both of their games heading into the Blockbuster. Also discussed: Kamu's case as the strongest newbie of the season, the newly formed Mosh Pit alliance, and whether a newbie jury will hold the returnees' advantages against them at the end.

Chuk Anyanwu joins The Exclusive fresh off a 9-1 eviction from Big Brother 28 — with only Haley Thogmartin voting to keep him — and he doesn't hold back on the ally he says ended his game: Kamu Kirk. Chuk breaks down the moment Kamu refused to use the veto on him ("that was the biggest red flag ever"), who he believes walked into LaTrice "Lala" Verrett's room and flipped the house, and why he refused to campaign even as Taylor Brown pushed him to fight. Plus: why he'd have backdoored Kamu with the HOH, and the flowers he's still willing to give Lala

Hurricane Howie Gordon is officially on the Memory Wall. The two-time Big Brother legend (Season 6 & All-Stars) sits down with host Sharon Tharp to look back on  one of the most beloved seasons in the show's history — the secret pairs twist that built his cast, the rise of the Sovereign Six, his infamous feud with April, and the real story behind the vote Ivette still hasn't forgiven him for. Plus, what it was actually like walking back into the Big Brother house 20 years later.

Big Brother 3 legend Jason Guy returns to The Exclusive to recap Week 5 of Big Brother 28, breaking down the blindside that rocked Haley's HOH and why Dee's fingerprints are all over the flip. Jason unpacks Lala's historic Wall win over Kamu, makes the case for Yash's quiet "stealth game" as the season's most dangerous, and explains why he needs to see the reality TV icons sweat before Dee and Devens cruise to the end. He weighs in on the secrecy around Deven's Diamond Power of Veto, calls Kamu a "free agent" living on borrowed time, and celebrates Mallory's feel-good BB Time...

The latest houseguest evicted from Big Brother 28, Lyric Medeiros, joins The Exclusive to break down the last-minute flip that sent her home 8-3 and why she insists she "knew" the vote was coming the moment Haley put her up. The attorney reflects on getting shut out of the Red Corner despite Chuk and Kamu's support, the apology she owed Mallory and Melody after "confirming" their target list, and Rome's ground rules for her flirting strategy — "no handholding and no kissing." Lyric also opens up about the "magnets" pull she felt with Rome from day one and reveals who she's picking to...

Q Burdette, fresh off Survivor 50, joins The Exclusive to watch a Big Brother episode for the very first time — and he's not holding back. The Survivor vet breaks down last night's episode in a mask, from Haley's "limited power of attorney" Head of Household run to Lyric throwing her closest allies under the bus to save her own game. Q also weighs in on Deven's mysterious power, the "scripted" feel of the diary room confessionals, and why the live feeds are proof the show is designed to "make people fail in real life." He explains why the game left his 2-y...

Big Brother 5 and All-Stars houseguest Diane Henry McFarland joins The Exclusive for the latest edition of the Memory Wall, looking back on one of the show's most iconic OG seasons two decades later. The reality TV vet reveals she never actually applied for Big Brother and reflects on the infamous blowup with Scott that had her begging producers in the middle of the night to let her quit. Diane also sets the record straight on the backdoor plan that changed the entire game, revealing who really came up with it, and opens up about the sting of Drew choosing Cowboy...

Big Brother 25 alum Izzy Gleicher returns to The Exclusive to recap Week 4 of Big Brother 28, breaking down why Drew is still in denial even after being warned he doesn't have the votes. Izzy discusses the power imbalance fueling drama inside Haley's HOH, calls out the "chucklehead three" running the house, and makes the case for Taylor as this season's "sleeper agent." She also unpacks the secrecy around the Diamond Power of Veto, weighs in on the controversial BB Bribe, and reflects on Jason's blindside exit and the "fumble" she thinks is costing both sides the game. Plus: her read on...

Drew's closest friend, who has been running his social media while he's in the Big Brother 28 house, joins The Exclusive for a special live podcast to break down one of the season's most talked-about games. After helping Drew prepare for the season and competing alongside him on Beast Games, he shares behind-the-scenes insight into Drew's strategy, the pregame planning that shaped his approach, where things went wrong with The Crossovers, and why he believes Drew can still recover. They also discuss Drew's relationships with Barrett, Melody and Angela, the mystery surrounding the Time Capsule power, and whether there's still a...

Big Brother 28's third eliminated houseguest, Jason De Puy, joins The Exclusive to break down the house's unanimous vote to send him packing. The RuPaul's Drag Race alum (better known as Salina EsTitties) shares his surprise to finding out that Taylor — not Barrett — cast the mystery vote for Rome, admits he regrets not scrapping his "generic" final pitch, and opens up about the isolating "Tea Party" confrontation with Kamu that he says "felt personal." Jason also addresses the lack of LGBTQ+ representation in the house, reveals the full-drag nomination speech he never got to deliver, and names exactly who he'd have...

Big Brother 10's Michelle Costa joins The Exclusive for this edition of Memory Wall to break down everything from Keesha's birthday and her now-iconic "unitard meltdown" on live eviction night. The self-proclaimed Portuguese princess reflects on "clocking" Dan as America's Player long before anyone in the house believed her, the kitchen scene so tense it felt "like a funeral," and the surreal Catalina Island date where Dan told her, "This isn't Rhode Island, but it's paradise." Michelle also revisits the infamous jury house bomb she dropped just because she was "bored" — telling the house she'd vote for Memphis to win — and...

Survivor 42's Omar Zaheer joins The Exclusive to recap Week 3 of Big Brother 28, breaking down Kamu's Head of Household reign, the controversial Tea Party plan, and why he believes the house could be on the verge of imploding. Omar shares his thoughts on Dee and Rick Devens' games so far, whether the veterans are overplaying their positions, how the Diamond Power of Veto could reshape the season, and why players like Lyric, Barrett, Taylor, and Mallory may be in better spots than fans realize. Plus, Omar reveals his current winner pick, his biggest dark horse, and explains the strategic move...

Big Brother 2 legend Monica Bailey joins The Exclusive for a wide-ranging in-studio conversation, revealing the real reason she believes she was cut from All-Stars at the last minute and why she says CBS still "owes her one." Monica revisits the surreal experience of learning about the 9/11 attacks—and the disappearance of her cousin—while sequestered in the Big Brother house, and reflects on predicting years before The Cookout that a Black houseguest couldn't win the game. She also opens up about her decades-long friendships with Dr. Will Kirby and Mike "Boogie" Malin, shares whether she'd ever return to Big Brother, and...

New Big Brother: Unlocked panelist Jerry O'Connell joins The Exclusive to share his unfiltered thoughts on the explosive second week of Big Brother 28. The actor and longtime superfan explains why he believes one houseguest is playing the "messiest" game in the house, weighs in on the growing power of the Icons alliance, and reveals the move he thinks the newbies need to make before it's too late. Jerry also reacts to Rome's eviction, shares why he's impressed with Taylor's loyalty, and opens up about why he'd jump at the chance to compete on Celebrity Big Brother.

The second houseguest evicted from Big Brother 28, Rome Seymour, joins The Exclusive to break down the mistake he believes cost him the game. The pickleball coach reacts to Lyric voting to evict him, explains why he has no regrets about their showmance, and reflects on putting too much trust in Rick Devens during his Head of Household reign. Rome also reveals who he planned to target had he stayed in the game, the surprising alliance he hoped to build had he survived the Blockbuster competition, and why he's already ready for another shot.

Big Brother 27's Jimmy Heagerty joins The Exclusive to recap an explosive second week of Big Brother 28. Jimmy shares his thoughts on Angela's game so far, Rick Devens' chaotic Head of Household reign, the formation of new alliances like The Toolshed, and the strategic fallout that has already reshaped the game. He also weighs in on the growing divide inside the house, the players making the biggest mistakes, who's in the best position moving forward, and whether this wild week has permanently shifted the balance of power. Plus, Jimmy reveals which houseguests he's most impressed by—and who he believes co...

Big Brother 28's first evicted houseguest, Ashley Trail, joins The Exclusive to break down what really went wrong during her first week in the house. Ashley opens up about the unanimous vote that sent her packing, why campaigning by naming the "other side of the house" ultimately tanked her game, and the alliance she hoped to build had she survived the Blockbuster competition. She also reveals who she would have targeted, shares which houseguests she believes are playing the strongest games so far, reacts to Rick Devens winning Head of Household, and explains why she'd jump at the chance to...

Julie Chen Moonves joins The Exclusive to break down the first week of Big Brother 28, and she isn't holding back. The longtime host explains why she believes Rick Devens made his biggest mistake of the season, reveals why Dee Valladares has completely won her over, and shares which houseguests she's already rooting for. Julie also opens up about the show's biggest premiere in five years, what she thinks is fueling the ratings surge, teases what fans can expect from the milestone 1,000th episode, and reveals the classic Big Brother twists and punishments she'd love to see return.

Survivor 50 winner Aubry Bracco joins The Exclusive to recap the wild first week of Big Brother 28 and share her unique perspective on former tribemates Dee Valladares and Rick Devens. Aubry explains why she believes Dee was "made for" the Big Brother format, breaks down Devens' chaotic but loyal gameplay, and weighs in on the powerful Crossovers alliance, the Red Corner, and the emerging battle against the returning reality TV veterans. She also shares her thoughts on Angela Murray's surprising position in the game, the players who have impressed her most so far, and reveals her early winner pick for the...

Big Brother 13 winner Rachel Reilly joins The Exclusive to reveal the story behind her surprise Big Brother 28 appearance, from secretly entering the house and forming alliances to being dramatically thrown into a volcano by a Velociraptor. Rachel shares behind-the-scenes details from filming the premiere, explains how production pulled off the twist, and reacts to Angela's surprising celebration after her exit. She also weighs in on Dee's first HOH reign, Jason's strategy of targeting the returning players, the season's first showmance, and why she's optimistic about the Big Brother 28 cast—and even teases whether she'd ever return to compete again.

With two Survivor stars officially joining the Big Brother 28 cast, Survivor 49 and 50 player Rizo Velovic joins The Exclusive to give Big Brother fans the ultimate crash course on Rick Devens and Dee Valladares. Having played alongside both of them on Survivor 50, Rizo breaks down each player's biggest strengths and weaknesses, how their Survivor games could translate to the Big Brother house, and why Dee and Rick could become two of the season's biggest threats. He also shares behind-the-scenes insight into their personalities, strategy, and relationship outside the game before making his predictions for their Big Brother 28 journeys.

Big Brother 4 winner Jun Song joins The Exclusive to break down the entire Big Brother 28 cast before the premiere. The reality TV legend shares her first impressions of every new houseguest, reveals who she thinks has the best chance to win, predicts the first boots, and explains which contestants she's already skeptical of after digging through their social media and LinkedIn profiles. Jun also weighs in on the season's returning reality TV veterans, discusses the evolution of modern Big Brother casting and reflects on why she never returned to play again.

Big Brother 28 is officially underway, and host Sharon Tharp is sharing her unfiltered first impressions of the first 14 houseguests entering the game. From superfans and recruits to potential showmances, early winner contenders, and players already giving "early boot" energy, Sharon reacts in real time to each contestant's introductory video and breaks down who stands out, who raises red flags, and who could surprise once the game begins. She also weighs in on the cast overall, the apparent lack of hardcore fans, and how the incoming mystery players could shake up the season.

Josh Martinez joins The Exclusive for his first in-depth interview following his fourth-place finish on La Casa de los Famosos. The Big Brother winner and The Challenge veteran opens up about surviving 115 days inside the house and why he says it was the hardest reality competition he's ever faced. Josh reflects on the emotional toll of the game, the racist and anti-Latino comments he says he endured, the two moments he nearly quit, and how seeing his mom during a family visit gave him the strength to keep going. 

He also discusses the overwhelming support he received f...

Padma Lakshmi joins host Sharon Tharp on The Exclusive to discuss creating and executive producing America's Culinary Cup, the ambitious new food competition series she designed to challenge the conventions of reality television. The Emmy-nominated host opens up about taking creative risks, eliminating many of the genre's most common tropes, and why she refused to sequester contestants during production.

Lakshmi also reflects on reinventing the cooking competition format, creating a high-end environment for chefs to perform at their best, the strategic elements inspired by shows like Survivor, and the lessons she's learned from decades in television. Plus...

Chef Jonathan Dearden joins The Exclusive following his elimination from Top Chef Season 23 to reflect on his journey through the competition, the ambitious pumpkin and brioche dish that ultimately sent him home, and why he believes the judges were forced to nitpick as the field narrowed. Jonathan opens up about the pressure of cooking alongside his brother Brandon, shares his unfiltered thoughts on the controversial challenges, and reveals why he was surprised to find himself on the bottom. He also discusses Sieger's heated Judges' Table confrontation, calling the moment "very uncomfortable," explains what viewers didn't see from the exchange, weighs...

Chef Anthony Jones joins The Exclusive following his elimination from Top Chef Season 23 to reflect on his journey, the rabbit challenge that sent him home, and the judges' critiques that he still questions. The chef opens up about why he found the "disjointed" criticism of his Michelin-inspired plating "odd," weighs in on fellow contestant Sieger's decision to push back at Judges' Table, and shares his thoughts on some of the season's most controversial challenges. Anthony also discusses the shrinking margin for error as the competition progressed, the advice he received from former Top Chef winner Tristen Epps before filming, and...

Big Brother 27 finalist Morgan Pope joins The Exclusive to recap the Survivor 50 finale after attending the live reunion in Los Angeles. Morgan reacts to Aubry Bracco’s emotional win, explains why she believes Aubry’s adaptability earned her the title, and weighs in on the online debate over whether the jury was truly “bitter” toward Jonathan and Joe.

Morgan also shares her firsthand reaction to Jeff Probst accidentally spoiling the fire-making challenge result live in the theater and what the atmosphere inside the room was actually like during the chaotic moment. Plus, Sharon and Morgan break down several...

The latest chef eliminated from Top Chef Season 23, Brandon Deaden, joins The Exclusive to break down the Restaurant Wars service that sent him home. Brandon reflects on taking the line cook role to help his team succeed, why he believes focusing too much on service hurt his individual dish, and the inconsistent rice pudding mistake that ultimately sealed his fate. He also opens up about the behind-the-scenes chaos viewers didn’t fully see, including communication breakdowns during service and why he believes timing and luck can play a huge role in Restaurant Wars. Plus, Brandon also discusses competing against his tw...

The latest chef eliminated from Top Chef Season 23, Oscar Diaz, joins The Exclusive to break down the small mistakes and kitchen chaos that led to his exit. Oscar reflects on the pressure of the combined Quickfire and Elimination challenge, the turmeric spill that left his face “on fire,” and why he thinks the judges misunderstood the intention behind his rice dish. He also opens up about the mental toll of filming, constantly moving locations, and trying to stay calm while cameras followed every move in the kitchen. Plus, Oscar shares what viewers didn’t fully see about the cast dynamic, how be...

Tiffany Nicole Ervin joins The Exclusive after her heartbreaking fifth-place finish on Survivor 50 to reflect on losing the game by just one puzzle piece and why she truly believes she would have won had she reached the Final Tribal Council. The Survivor 46 alum opens up about overcoming early skepticism from fans and fellow players, navigating the game after losing her closest allies early, and how her social game helped her survive despite becoming an early target. Tiffany also breaks down her close bond with Cirie, explains why she ultimately respected and voted for Aubry’s winning game, and pushes back on...

Rizo Velovic joins The Exclusive after his heartbreaking fourth-place finish on Survivor 50 to react to Jeff Probst accidentally spoiling his fire-making elimination live during the finale and why he’s choosing to embrace the moment as part of his Survivor legacy. The Season 49 alum reflects on going out in fire for the second season in a row, explains why Aubry ultimately didn’t want to sit next to him at the Final Tribal Council, and breaks down the faction-based gameplay that shaped the endgame. Rizo also responds to criticism from Ozzy and Chrissy, shares why he has “zero regrets” about not warn...

Joe Hunter joins The Exclusive after finishing in third place on Survivor 50 to reflect on one of the emotional Final Tribal Council and why he felt many jury members were “locked in” before the questioning even began. The two-time finalist opens up about the difficulty of returning for an all-star season, the criticism he’s received from fans, and why he refused to “play a character” just to fit what viewers wanted from him. Joe also discusses his personal bond with Rizo, including the emotional fire-making moment where he stepped in to help him, and explains why that decision mattered more to hi...

Survivor 50 runner-up Jonathan Young joins The Exclusive to reflect on his emotional Final Tribal Council loss to Aubry and why he believes modern Survivor juries may value “middle” gameplay differently than aggressive strategic control. The Survivor 42 alum opens up about evolving beyond the “challenge beast” label this season, talking with Boston Rob before the game, and why he thought his more flexible and socially active approach would resonate with the jury. Jonathan also reacts to Aubry’s underdog story dominating the finale conversation, shares his thoughts on jury dynamics and Ponderosa influence, and breaks down the brutal immunity challenge where he threw u...

Aubry Bracco joins The Exclusive fresh off her long-awaited victory on Survivor 50 to reflect on finally rewriting her Survivor story nearly a decade after Kaoh Rong. The fan-favorite opens up about intentionally playing a more patient and perception-focused game this time around, why she learned to “keep her doors open” socially, and how years of studying her past losses ultimately helped her secure the win. Aubry also breaks down the emotional challenge of voting out allies like Ozzy and Cirie, explains why Tiffany became her “Survivor angel,” and reveals the strategic thinking behind wanting to sit next to Jonathan and Joe...

Survivor: China winner Todd Herzog joins The Exclusive to break down the Survivor 50 Final 5 and predict who will ultimately take home the $2 million prize. Todd shares his candid thoughts on Joe and Jonathan’s “old school” style of gameplay, why he believes Tiffany could win if she survives Final 5, and whether Rizo’s flashy betrayal of Cirie and Ozzy was actually a smart move. He also weighs in on Aubry’s edit, Amanda Kimmel almost returning for the season, the impact of pre-gaming in all-star Survivor, and why Final Tribal Council could be far messier than fans expect.

Big Brother 25 and The Amazing Race 38 star Izzy Gleicher joins The Exclusive to break down the emotional Survivor 50 episode that saw Cirie Fields and Rick Devens sent packing just before the finale. The reality TV superfan reacts to Cirie’s brutal exit edit, debates whether Rizo made a game-ending mistake by turning on his closest ally, and explains why she believes Aubry is now the frontrunner to win the season. Izzy also weighs in on Tiffany’s underrated game, Jonathan and Joe’s jury chances, the chaos of the Final 5, and why the Survivor 50 reunion could get very messy.